HCS elects new officers at organizational meeting

The Hillsboro City Schools Board of Education re-elected Laura Bagshaw as board president and Sam Barnhouse as vice president during the organizational meeting held Monday. 

The board met in the library of Hillsboro High School, where the regular monthly meetings will be held during 2011. Immediately following the vote on officers, Bagshaw and Barnhouse were sworn in by treasurer Debbie Lawwell. 

The board held their regular meeting following the organizational meeting, during which Lawwell reported that the cash balance at the end of December was $3,582,335. Last year at that same time, the figure was $3,782,898. Expenses for December 2010 were $1,633,260.

Lawwell reported that the district has received its reimbursement for funds for the construction of the turn lane on U.S. 62 near the new schools in the amount of $270,000. While the district is still waiting on the reimbursement of an additional $30,000, Lawwell said it was positive news to receive the funds and that the district "won't have to advance it as we have in the past."

Superintendent Rick Earley reported that he projects the enrollment in the district will be around 2,800 by the end of the school year. The board voted to certify the number of students enrolled at 2,724, as of Dec. 31. Earley said that figure came from the state count week in September.

While the number of students may increase throughout the year, Earley said, the district does not receive additional funding for students who enroll after the count. 

The board noted that during count week in 2009, the number of students was 2,537, so enrollment has increased by nearly 200 students. 

"I expect we'll be at 2,800 by year's end," Earley said. 

The board made committee assignments and discussed the need for new committees, such as a technology committee and a community relations committee.

Barnhouse said that while neither committee would be his top pick to serve on, he agreed there was a need for them.

"At this point in time, a community relations committee is really the most important," Earley said. 

The technology committee would examine what the district needs to do to enhance its use of projects and technology that are already in place, but the community relations committee would "Get the word out on what we're doing internally. There are a lot of good things going on that we need to get out there and 'sell' what we're already doing."

The board briefly discussed the matter and elected to make assignments at a later meeting. 

In other business:

• Board member Ken Shull said the board should begin to get the word out that there may be some vacancies on the school board in the coming year, and interested residents need to consider running. The terms of both Shull and Bagshaw are up at the end of 2011, and Shull said that he will not run again. Bagshaw told The Highland County Press that at this time, she was not planning on seeking re-election. 

• During the organizational meeting, the board agreed to be paid for a maximum of 18 meetings per year at a rate of $125 per meeting, the maximum rate allowed by law for each meeting; authorized the superintendent to employ staff and accept resignations; approved waiving the reading of the board minutes for each meeting; authorized the treasurer to pay bills; authorized a purchasing agent; passed a resolution for advance on the draw of taxes; passed a resolution to adopt the fiscal year 2011 tax budget; and passed a resolution a board service fund.

• Bagshaw suggested the board schedule a time periodically to meet with Lawwell so they could learn more about certain projects or district business, such as specifics regarding the tax budget or five-year forecast. Lawwell suggested that board members attend the board finance committee meeting, which takes place one hour prior to most board meetings. Board member Bill Myers said that might be a good time for the board to discuss setting aside funds for special projects, such as a track. Lawwell said that if the board wants her to put aside funds in the next budget, she can plan for the budget that begins July 1. (The district's fiscal year ends June 30.) 

Myers asked if there were funds for such projects in areas like the permanent improvement fund. 

Lawwell said that because construction projects were still ongoing, and the funds are earning interest, "there are a few things I am uncertain about. We may have a little more in permanent improvement, but right now we don't have very much at all."

• Voted to approve a quote from Frye International, Inc. for the purchase of wireless service at the elementary school at a cost of $29,600. The funds for the purchase will not come from the general fund, according to Earley, rather from the equivalent to the principal's fund. Earley said that the wireless service was cut initially from the elementary to keep construction under budget. 

• Earley said that January was board appreciation month and presented each board member with a certificate and thanked them for putting "the time and energy into making Hillsboro City Schools a better place."

• The board voted to approve medical leave and an unpaid leave of absence for three employees. 

• Voted to approve Continental Manor of Blanchester use of the district's facilities in case of a catastrophe if it does not conflict or interrupt the education of the students. 

• Voted to approve the following certified substitutes, contingent upon satisfactory background checks and proper certification: Rebecca Farley, Emilee Lakes and Amy White. 

• The board discussed filling out self-evaluations from the Ohio School Board Association but will discuss them in further detail during the next meeting. 

• Tentatively scheduled a special meeting for Jan. 19 at 7 p.m.